Realistic expectations for 2020-21?

[JayB]

Am I reading this correctly? 10 games in three weeks between Sept. 12 and Oct. 3?!? That is complete and utter madness.

 

[dtxspurs]

Am I reading this correctly? 10 games in three weeks between Sept. 12 and Oct. 3?!? That is complete and utter madness.

Surely we’ll have a backup striker by that point.... not.

 

[Saoirse]

Am I reading this correctly? 10 games in three weeks between Sept. 12 and Oct. 3?!? That is complete and utter madness.

Yep, I'm afraid you're 100% right. For the other 19 clubs it's only a maximum of 7 games which is basically reasonable - there wasn't any way found to adjust things for our participation in Europa qualifying.

 

[Kingellesar]

This is why we need a bigger squad. No way can any of our players cope with this schedule.

Must be a few loan deals we can get in in order to allow us to compete on all fronts. Realistically the Europa League and League Cup are the two trophies we have the best chance of getting this season.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Jeez, those early Europa qualifying rounds are a real headache.

 

[JayB]

This is why we need a bigger squad. No way can any of our players cope with this schedule.

Must be a few loan deals we can get in in order to allow us to compete on all fronts. Realistically the Europa League and League Cup are the two trophies we have the best chance of getting this season.

I think we'll need to keep Skipp and Sessegnon at the club, at least until the January window. Given the insane fixture congestion there should be plenty of matches for them to play in the first half of the season. We aren't in a position to sacrifice squad depth.

 

[Saoirse]

Jeez, those early Europa qualifying rounds are a real headache.

Let's at least hope the draw is kind... Oh come on, who am I kidding. We all know we're getting sent to the North Pole, followed by the Kazakh border with China, before a Playoff on a Portuguese island halfway to America.

 

[Saoirse]

In the worst case scenario, we actually have as little as 42 hours between our League Cup game finishing (in Carlisle, naturally) and our Europa League game starting. Forget training - there's some draws where it might be a challenge to physically get there in time for kick-off.

 

[homer hotspur]

Yep, I'm afraid you're 100% right. For the other 19 clubs it's only a maximum of 7 games which is basically reasonable - there wasn't any way found to adjust things for our participation in Europa qualifying.

A few weeks back it was being suggested that all PL clubs in Europe would be excluded from the league cup this season. Seemed sensible so obviously hasn't happened

 

[homer hotspur]

I think we'll need to keep Skipp and Sessegnon at the club, at least until the January window. Given the insane fixture congestion there should be plenty of matches for them to play in the first half of the season. We aren't in a position to sacrifice squad depth.

When we were debating the merits of qualifying for the Europa league, everyone was listing all our fringe players who would get great experience. Top amongst them were Parrot , Sessegnon and Skipp. Yet, the vibe coming from the club has been very much hinting at loans. I think caution is required here. Obviously too late for TP.

 

[PrettyColors]

I don’t think Mou would do this but we might want to just send the U23s to League Cup fixtures - 6 games in 11 days is just madness.

 

[mark87]

In the 17 days between 17th September and 3rd October we potentially have eight games. Fucking mental.

 

[cider spurs]

10 games in 3 weeks. Ideal scenario to get Nhamburger into shape.

 

[Saoirse]

A few weeks back it was being suggested that all PL clubs in Europe would be excluded from the league cup this season. Seemed sensible so obviously hasn't happened

It's an idea that seemed sensible for those PL clubs, but not at all sensible for the EFL (the PL agreed with them to keep taking part in the 92 breakaway) - the LC provides 33% of their income, and that would be even further reduced if the big teams weren't playing. They'd also be fearful that it would set a precedent and those clubs would never play it again.

 

[Tucker]

We have withdrawn our youth side from the FA Trophy, I would imagine that’s with those League Cup fixtures in mind.

 

[Ledley's Right Foot]

Am I reading this correctly? 10 games in three weeks between Sept. 12 and Oct. 3?!? That is complete and utter madness.

3 games in four days too - 15th-19th September. That's crazy.

Edit: followed immediately by 3 games in 4 days. This can't be happening that's way too many games.

 

[rabbikeane]

Could be the time to have two teams, a Premier League side and an International/domestic cup side.

 

[CornerPinDreamer]

Let's at least hope the draw is kind... Oh come on, who am I kidding. We all know we're getting sent to the North Pole, followed by the Kazakh border with China, before a Playoff on a Portuguese island halfway to America.

Fucking awesome...after lockdown and self isolation i’m packing my polar gear, a ‘fuck you communists‘ flag and 3 durex (Singular not packets)

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Am I reading this correctly? 10 games in three weeks between Sept. 12 and Oct. 3?!? That is complete and utter madness.

It's 9 games, not 10, as we don't play in the Caraboa Cup until Round 3. It's still ridiculous though: Sat-Thurs-Sat-Tues-Thurs-Sat-Tues-Thurs-Sat. So much for hoping we don't getting hit with tons of injuries again this season...

The transfer deadline is 5th October, so maybe we can delay a few sales until deadline day, to help with these nightmare fixtures.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

European clubs don’t enter carabao cup until the third round thankfully. Also, looking at the sides we could face in those first two EL fixtures, I’d he really disappointed if event a fully rotated third string was unable to beat pretty much all those teams.

The four matches from September 26th till October 3rd is the hardest part. Hopefully we get favourable draws in both those so that we can play a weaker side in carabao, stronger in EL, and then weaker again in the premier league match on October 3rd if everyone’s too fucked.